Securing clip



3 Sheets-Sheet l July 25, 1944. E, Q DOKE 2,354,506

' SECURING CLIP Filed Jan. l28, 1942 July z5, 1944.

5 sheets-sheet- 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1942 Patented July 25, 1944 fis'. I2,354,506?

vMy invention'` relates to improvementsin clips ofthe character which are particularly :adapted for securing certainlA members of a structure to the supports upon which vthey rest '1n voverlapping relation, an example of such structure beingffa railway'car floor in whichvthe floor-boards are supported by a framework including sills having lower faces offset-from the floorfboardshand adapted to be engaged by the clips which Yare'fas tened to the floor-boards. Y .i l

A problem involved yin the use of V,this kind'of clip is the accommodation'of variable oifsetspac-` ings between the surfaces of the member'sto be secured together; 4Iny railway. car floors,.for in' stance, -such variations may .occur becauserof spacing or lack of-spacing between Afloor boards and sill, or differences in `sill thicknessfin different floors or even lin different parts of the'same oor structure. Heretofore it has been necessary to provide separate clips for each of ,theivarious offset conditions that could-be anticipated be-Y tween the clip-'engaged surfacesof the floor members. This necessity for a variety of` different clip sizes hasiimposed a substantial burden-both upon the clip manufacturer and upontheuser.

A further object ofthe invention isto,` provide an` improved securing -clip which.Y is particularly;- adapted for use at a cornenformed by;I angularlyrelated members .both of which. should be enf,-

Anladditional. bj @tis tofprpvidea cupwhin is especially reenforced to permit theuseof rel-- atlvelythin sheet-metal vin itsconstruction. v g

Another 'Objectis to provide. improved nu locking means forclips.off.thisytype.

Still anotherobject of theinvention is to provide .a securing clip of the foregoing general character which is adaptedto be made easily and". economically fromflat sheet metal stockgbyaL simplequantity .productionstamping process.

Other objects and` advantages` of Amy invention` will appear more ,-fullyfromrthe following de-`v gaged by the.. clipg'.

SECURING. orar@y l v f kefChicag, Ill.,l assivgviior to l Ma'cLeanJl'oggfl Lock Nut Company,z Chicago,

f scriptionand from the accompanyingQdrawings',

in which similarcharacters ofreferenceindicate similarpartsfthroughout the Vseveral-views.

@Figure 1 isf-.azifragmentaryvertical sectional floorboard to a sill of intermediate thickness;

,. Fig. 5 is a bottom planview showing-a modification ofmyclip; zal- ..Fig. 6 is ai fragmentary sectional viewthrough the floor structure .showingthe clip of Figf5 in side e1evatiori;.. Y. ,Fgl is v.alfirag'mentary .vertical sectionalyiew taken substantially in the plane of line. .'I1.-1.of

ig. 8 isa bottom lplan view'of a modified form oiiheclip; v l Fig.. 9 is a bottom `planyiew of a further modi` edformof,theclip;l `10 is aside ,elevationof the clipshown in FaQ;7 Y. .v l I Fig. 11,is aperspective. view of another yformlof theclrnd.y LL Fig. v12v is, a side elevational view of still anf-` other modiflcation;

Fig. 13 is a bottomplanview clipofFglZ; l. Fig. 1li isa bottom,plan view of another form of the clip includinganut locking device;

Fig. 15 is. a transverse sectional -view taken substantially along the line l5-Ql5 of Fig. 141;: and

of u rrlodifedy Fig. l1 6 isa transverse sectional. view Vthrough ra.' further modification having yintegral nut `locking. means. v

I Referring more particularly vto the drawings, a clip, I0 isshown in ligs, 1 to 4 secured, .by way offillustration, ,to theVV underside of a meml: erl si'1`ch' V as aV floor board vIl Vby fastening means,

which may comprise a bolt assembly l2 .including a nut I2a." The clip I0, in turn, secures the flor'boardll' vto aj `supp orting member or sill.y I3 `upo'n"which the board rests in overlappingA relation with its lower face offset from the lower facelof the sill.` i f The section f a floor construction chesenror illustration may beof the type v"found railway" c'ars in which vwooden flooring" is supportedbyI a steel framework. Thus, thesill `I3 comprisesthe Vlem of attaining proper `bearing or hold of the portions of the clip which respectively engage against the floor board and the sill. The com-1 mon expedient for meeting this problem has; been to supply clips especially constructed with'y differently offset portions to accommodate each dimensional requirement. y A feature of the clip IU is the a substantia1 range of variations in the offset of the board and sill surfaces.

I 5` whi'chfis formed with a'fsub'stantial preferably IlatV engagement face I 6:? Integral with the base I5 is afframe= or sill-engaging'portionor'ange II -having asilliengaging' face 5I8offset fromthe board-'erie'agingjface-I6 -in such a manneras 'to' bear adequately .'a'gairis'tthe opposed lower surface of the sill I3 even thoughthe'oifs'etfspacing of the latter fromthe-board may Vary'within a substantial yrange. 'f f i Such variation in the offset spacing between the boardiand sill surfaces may come about, for example, ,because-'of diierences @in thickness fof the sill-|31* This thickness may varyfromaminimum', such-'as approximately one-quarter of, an inch, as shown in full line attheleft' side of Figjl, to a maximumthickness of approximately one--halfof aninch' as indicated inphantom outline at I 3a at Athe right sideofFig; .if .For accommodating Vtheiresulting extremes in' offsetting, the sill-engaging flange I'I` is preferably. formed with a plurality of sections in whichthe face- I 8 vis correspondinglyl offsetl from the face I6. Thus, aminimum offset section I9 at one side ofthe clipY is adapted for engagement with the sill, I3 .whereit is of minimum thickness, and a'maximum offset section `2Ilis providedat the opposite side of the clipfor engaging .the thicker sill I31. The flange sections I9.and20 may .be formedv in substantially parallel planes so as to secure utmost bearinguponthe engaged surface ofthe sill. Y

In order to adapt the sill-engaging'iiange .II for use with sills of incremental variations-in thickness betweenthe minimum .and1 maximum` sill thicknesses described,'the sections I9and 2E! may be joined by integral slanting-surfaced` adapter sections 2|. By way of example, Fig. fl.

shows asill .|319 ofan intermediate thickness,

suchas approximately three-eighths Aof an inch, engaged byone of the slanting adapter sections constructionrv which makes it self-sufficient for accommodatingv The bodyof thel clip includes a floor-engaging portion or base particular area of the face I8 which is to be placed in engagement with the sill.

A result of the embossed construction of the clip I is that the annular connecting wall 22 provides an efficient reenforcement. This permits the clip to be made of relatively thin material. i

The transverse internal dimensions 0f the cupshaped recess dened by the base bossA I is preferably great enough to accommodate a tool such ...as a wrench used in driving the nut I2 of the ""bolt. I 'centered relation within the base recess through .a central aperture 23.:

- r Turning of the clip, due to the various twistingstrainsito which it may be subjected in the railway car floor, may be prevented by means The shank of the bolt I2 is received in such as prongs 24 projecting beyond the face I6 somewhat,- yieldable nature. of the metal stock fromwhich :it ismade, will give enough to allow for slight variations in or between the engaged surfaces.l This is'particularly true in the instance w'here one of the slanting adapter sections 2| is employed to `engage the sill .I3b. Thus,

Y the 'engaged portion of the section may give or flatten Aout somewhat against'the sill, as indicated in Fig. 4, under the ldrawing-up pressure so aste increase its hold on the sill, over what it might'be if only point contact 'were'm'ade with the sill...

Improved engagement of the adapter sections 2I "withjthe sill I3b is obtained by severing the flange 'I'I along lines 25 which will substantially separate the adapter sections `from the minimum and maximumv oiset sections I9 and 20, as shown in Figs. 5*, 6'and 7. In the present instance, the lines-of severance 25 extend radially at equidistant -fintervalsdesignedto separate the flange I1 intofour` equal sectionsin which the greater area-ofeach section is adjacentY the periphery where it is available for sillengagement. If preferred, or found'm'ore desirable for any particular requirement, the lines of severance v25 may be formedv at any other angle than'radial. It' should also be noted that for'some purposes it may be desirable to separate the adapter sections 2I into a plurality of sub-sections by means of cuts similar to the'lines of severance 25.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, when one of the adapter sections 2 I. of the clip is drawn up against which the clip .is formed .being inthe form ,of-

a rounddisc. The base ,I5 maybe pressed from the. center of Vthe bddy in the shapeof a. cup-v shaped boss which is ,integrallyV connected by ra generally axially extending annular Wall v2\2-t`o the si1l.engaging}flange I-'l.4 Thus, the flange vI'I encircles the base with the :face I8 at a'gener` ally.tilted. angle-relative tol theY face Iland:l permits ready and convenient selection vof the the-sillv I3b with the clip in' such a rotary position thatthe minimum offset section lgclears.

the'edgev of the'sill, the engaging adapter section will bend Ytransversely into conformity with the engaged surface of the sill.' i If the .lower side` .vl'of the adapter section 2I v`fails to meet the surface ofthe sill', it'can be readilyj bent upthereagainst. AsV a resultfthe adaptersection bears.,

quite fully and efficiently against thesill Instead of forming1 the clip circular, vit may be of rectangular form as shown in the modied clip 21 of '-'Fig 8. In this form minimum and maximumz offset sill-engaging flange sections 28.andA

29, respectively, are severed along lines'30 from adapter sections 3I, andthe adapter sectionsare each separated by lines of severance 32 into subastiene tion of the `'sill-engaging flangefeach vofthe sections and sub-sections of theA flange -hasfan in"- creased still-engaging area adjacentvthe corners of the rectangle; The board-engaging portion of the clip 21. is also formed as an embossed, centrally apertured base identified at '34.

-Ilf preferred', the'adapter 'sections of the lsill'- engaging ange of the lclip may be pre-formed tojdilerentofsets intermediate the-minimum and maximum offset sections and in parallelfplanes. `A clipy 35 embodying thisfeaturef is shown in Figs. 9 and 10 andincludes an embossed base`31 which is integrally connected by means of av connecting and reenforcing wall 38 to minimum and 'maximum offset sill-engaging vflange sections 39"'and 4'0,`respectively, and to adapter sections`4| vand 42 ofrespectively different, intermediate offsets. All of the ange sections are preferably cut away at their ends by notching out, as indicated at 43. To facilitate formation of the sections radial slits 44 may be cut to extend inwardly fromA the inside corners of the notches 43 to the c'zonnect` ing and reenforcing wall 38. v y

Although the clip 35 is shown as having'four equally proportioned and Vuniformly graduated sill-flange sections, the number, 'si'zeand graduation of the anges may, of course, Vbe varied as desired. 1 f A 'I'he modied form of clip 45 shown in'FigJll, is of generally rectangular form and is adapted to be made by simpleV square bending of a flat strip of material. This 'cliphas aboard-engaging base portion 41 provided 4with a central boltaperture The base lies between the minimum' and maximum offset sill-engaging flanges 49 and 50; respectively,I which are integrallyf connected thereto by means of substantially right-angular connecting and reenforcing'bends 5I and 52,respectively. The spacing between theconnectin'g walls l and 52 is pre-determined to afford ample clearance to accommodate a nut-driving tool, If preferred, of course, additional anges of graduated offset may be provided at the opposite sides of the board-engaging base 41.

The clip 55 shown in Figs. 12 and 13 is simply of round disk form having a. circular board-V engaging base 51 which is offset by embossment from an encircling sill-engaging flange 58 of substantially parallel plane relative to the boardengaging face of the base. A central bolt aperture 59 is formed in the base 51, and it may also have a rotation-preventing prong 60. The central embossment of the base 51 strongly reenforces the clip. Byhaving the sill-engaging ange 58 entirely around the clip, engagement thereof at the corners formed by converging sill members, or in other places where engagement is desired with angularly related supporting members, is facilitated.

In Figs. 14 and 15 is shown an embossed-base type of clip 65 equipped with means for locking the nut of the fastening bolt against accidental loosening. In this clip a substantially rectangular embossed board-engaging base 61 has an integral, offset encircling flange 68. At the center of the board-engaging base 61 is a bolt hole 69. Because of the generally rectangular form of the base, substantially straight sides are provided which are adapted for engagement with the edge of the sill so that the clip will be held against rotation relative to the bolt.

`Within the recess formed by embossment of the base 61 is a nutlocking means which may comprise a relatively thin, rectangular metal plate lying flat against the inside face of the embossment. A` central aperture 1| in the plate: registers with the bolt aperture 69;' 'At each side of the plate10`is a narrow, integral nut-locking tongue 12 which is in part formed from the plane of the plate 10 by means of parallel slits 13 cut inwardly from the edges of the plateto points short of the aperture 1|. The free endv portion of each of the locking tongues12 comprises a tip 14 extending angularly tov the plane of the plate and outwardly of the recess `to facilitate engagement of thev locking tongues by a bending `tool.

The locking tongues 12 are. initially formed'to have their main" portions or bodies1-lie in Athe plane of the plate 10 and with-fthe projecting tips 14 lying at the edge fofthe plate. Then after the nut of the bolt has been tightened, any selected one or moreof the locking tongues may be bent against-the adjacent lateral face ofl the nut Substantiallyasindicated in dot-dash outline in Fig. 15. The nut will thus be eifectively held against accidental loosening. f However, when it isdesired to loosen the nut, the locking tongues;-.can easily'be bent out of the way with; out breaking'oiyandthey can lagain bebent Aback into locking position after the ynut has been re:` tightened. :Thexgnumber and positions Vof` the locking tongues 12 enables .effective locking `of the nut in any rotative position that it mayftake; Eventhough one or Vmore of the tongues v12 should break off from repeated bending or become otherwise unusablefthe remaining tongues will still permit reuse of` the device foreifectively locking the nut of the bolt; The .plate 10'may either be loosely assembled-with the clip 651or may be secured thereto in'any suitablemanner such asby spot welding. 1

YIn the vform ofthe clip identied by the ynumeral'lE in Figfrl,` integral vnut-locking means is provided." The body of the clip 15 may `be formed fromrelatively thinfsheet metal With a base" 11 in the :nature of` an embossment oiset from :an

engagement langel. The ebase11 has-a bolt aperture 19 and is adapted to receive the nut of the fastened bolt thereagainst. One or more integral nut-locking elements in the form of bendable tongues are struck directly from the material of the clip, preferably from the base 11 adjacent the area engaged by the nut. There may be any preferred number of the nut locking tongues 80, the arrangement shown being for three equidistantly spaced and extending radially relative to the bolt aperture 19. Through this arrangement the selected one or more of the locking tongues 8i) which will most effectively engage the nut in any particular tightened position may be @bent against the nut as indicated in dot-dash outline. To release the nut for intentional loosening, the locking tongues 80 are bent back to permit the' nut to clear on rotation. The tongues are then adapted to be bent back into locking position after the nut has been retightened.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a simple and economical clip which is particularly suitable for connecting together structural members of variable relative proportions. Thus, where the clip is used to connect a floor board to a sill, variations in thickness of the sill are readily accommodated merely by presenting the appropriate graduated section of the sill-engaging portion of the clipto the adjacent face of the sill and securing the clip in place. This entirely eliminates the necessity for special clips for various thicknesses of1sill,1 within vat Aleast a substantial range l of sill thicknesses. y i i Theembossmentof the clip by'which the board- `engagingxbase is formed is vof substantial' reenf forcingvalueand thus permits the use-of; thinner material thanprior clips.k .n

1While the invention is susceptiblejof various modifications; and alternative constructions, I have shown in -thedrawings, and4 have herein described in detail certain preferred embodiments, but itf-islto be understood -that I donotfthereby intend to limit thev invention to the specific lforms disclosed-,z but intendrto .Zoover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within Vthe spirituand scope 'vof the invention as=expressed inthe claims which-follow. v f

I claim'as my invention: v f

l. In arstamped sheet 'metal clip adapted for securing'a oor board4 toa supporting sill presentin'gA an engagement face offsetbelow the lower faceof the board to a selective variable extent within a given range, a body/having a central arealthereof. pressed into theA fo'rm of an emboss-y mentv spaced from all edges o'fthebody and pro- `vidingaliiat base to 'engagelilatwise against the floor: board, and .a 'sill-:engaging flange structure surrounding :the base 'and extending laterally 'therefrom in? graduatedrofset -relation tothe board-'engaging face of thev base whereby diierentuporti'ons of the flange structureare adapted to make face contactaA with respective sills having unequal offset spacing Arelativ-e to their associated floor. boards, and/an annular substantially right-angular integralwall connectingr the flange structurexandthe base and reenforcing and stiiening the same to withstand the stresses and strains in use which would tend to deform and distort a'ilat piece'of sheet metal of equivalent dimensionsand gauge, said flange structure comprising an originally solid ilange havingy radial lines of severance separating the graduated sections thereof into units independent ofthe remaining sections ibut all connected together amaca Athroughthe medium of the; annular -reenforcing and Vstiffeningwall which remains :solid tand fully -eiective `^for, reenforcingl and stiiening the clip las a wholefandeach of the separate offset flange sections individually, and collectively'.

2. A clip-consisting of a one-piece'hat-shaped metal membery of. substantially I*uniform* thickness throughout-.its crown portion .and its rim portion; thecrown portionbeing rigid having a,centrallyy aperturedy flat topaldl anninterior suiciently--large to receive ahnt-and the nutfengagingl 4portion of a` toolforv wrenching Y the nutmupon a boltentering the crownportion throughitsgtop aperture; thefrimsportion cpmprisinga first` pair of .diametrically opposite sec@ tions ;disposed in planessubstantially. parallel with but, at diilerent distances yfrom the plane of the crownl top, anda second pairvof diametrically opposite sections extendingibetween the sections of` therstpairt and disposed in planes oblique to the plane4 of the crownitop, said rinrportion' beingsubstantially less rigidthan the crown portionfand capable'of adapting itself to a sill or the like with which any of its iaforesaid sections is forcibly engaged yby nut-and-boltf pressure applied .to the crownr'pzortion. Y v

-3.,A, clip consisting ofL acne-piece hat-shaped metal member of ylsulcstantially;,uniform thickness throughout its crown portion and its rim portion; l the crown portionfyhavinga centrally apertured flat top'andan interior sulciently large to V.receive qa r1ut=and` the nut-engaging por@ tionv ofatoolforvwrenchingthe nut upon a bolt entering the crown portion through its top aperture; the rim portion comprising a iirstpair of diametrically opposite sectionsdisposed in planes substantially parallel with but at diierent distancesffromthe plane of the crown top, and a second pair of diametrically opposite sections extendingbetween the sectionsA of the rst pair and disposediin planes oblique to the plane of the crownV top. y f t l VERNEST G. DOKE. 

